Convincing parents P-6831 FX

I really like this laptop, and I have to have a laptop for college. My parents dont like gaming, and they are skeptical of this computer even though they want me to have a good laptop. I am going into engineering, and so far, my only idea is that i need a really powerful graphics card for engineering programs. Is that true or am I completely off base? Any help could be useful
thanks

 

I doubt you need a powerfull card for engineering, especially if the college still uses 2003-04 softwares... What kind of engineering you're going?

 

dont know yet

 

not worth getting a good graphics card for Engineering, i'm in my first year of engineering and the only program I am using currently is MATLAB which needs good processor for quicker calculations.

Most programs are pre-loaded on the Uni computer network and the computers they use are Windows XP based with integrated motherboard graphics and 1GB of RAM. You wont need anything more than integrated for the laptop too. A T7250 processor will be good enough. (Uni has stuff like Corel DRAW X3 etc... and it runs fine on integrated motherboard graphics)

Only reason for a good graphics card is for games.

Oh and you won't be using the laptop much in any type of LAB work as the programs are most likely not licensed for students to use on their own machines, you will have to consult with the computer services department of the Uni to see the available licenses to buy to install on ur laptop

 

Im a mechanical engineer, and the graphics card in this machine is not tailored to 3d modeling from CAD/CAM applications. There are a host of different professional grade graphics cards for this type of application.

As an engineering student, you need something with a good processor, and dont worry about graphics, because you will not do much of this as an undergrad. and the small amount of work that you will do will be most likely at the computer lab with beefy workstations.

 

luckily my parents have accepted that im going to game, and i was able to purchase a gaming laptop
if youre doing a lot of CAD then you would need a mid-range gcard
i personally would recommend the Asus C90s because it sports a Conroe processor (desktop-level) to knock out any equations fast
of course its gcard is kind of overkill, but its nice to have extra of something
only up to 3GB of RAM
Asus C90s goes under names like the Vigor Ares, or the Force 3860 from xotic or something
Asus is an ODM

Edit: a workstation from dell would probably suit your needs, as a lot of them are tailor-made for that

plus, there is a trade off, i get to get all the gaming stuff, but i have to pay for it
gl on convincing your parents

 

thanks,
as an undergraduate, would this laptop be allright?
Would the 8800M gts prevent me from doing some work with engineering programs or will it just not be aiding me?
Is T5450 strong enough or is the minimum really a t7250?


sorry for all the questions, now it seems like it would have been simpler to fill out at FAQ under the what notebook should i buy thread.

 

the processor is more than enough for daily activities, the ONLY aspect it struggles in is gaming, from my experience. It will hold back the 8800m GTS, and I would suggest upgarding the proccesor if you hard core game alot, personally its ok for now but I like having the ability to upgrade if I wanted to.

for college though and CAD and things like that it is more than enough. It is the best bang for your buck gaming laptop right now.

 

are you using your own money? damn right, i am. so i buy whatever i want. and i'm getting this next sunday lol. i'm going into my first year of college too.

 

luckily i only will have to buy half of it if i decide to go with it

 

nice you lucky son of b. lol jk
i'm going to ask my parents to "borrow" some money for the laptop this weekend.

 

Yea I have a few years to college but I might see if my parents are willing to pay part of the 1300 dollar with tax cost of it because I could take it on trips and such for checking email and what not, I know I can pay atleast half of it and probably 3/4 of it if they are willing to loan to me.

 

The P-6831 FX is horrible when it comes to running on battery. If it is going to be pretty much your desktop system, then it's OK.

Don't forget to get a cable lock for it, and don't be ashamed to use it, no matter where you are, be it in your dorm room, or at the library, first thing, throw that cable lock on it. Laptops can disappear fast, especially one of the FX caliber. Have your parents get insurance on it too, just to be safe.

As for m8800 graphics card for Solid Modeling, I know there is software, which makes the Nvidia Quadro Series, which is designed for Solid Modeling, run as a GeForce gaming GPU. The Nvidia gaming and professional GPU's are pretty much the same, w/features either turned on or off in each. There may be software the allows the opposite, a GeForce to run as a Quadro.

http://developer.nvidia.com/object/nvemulate.html

The GeForce m8800 GTS is going to be a lot better to use w/Solid Modeling than a Intel Graphics based one will.

If you really want a Quadro GPU laptop, Dell has what is called their Precision series. I myself have a Dell M90 Precision laptop, which I use to run CATIA (CAD/CAM) software.
.

 

I can get 3 hours on power saving mode? thats really good for a 17inch

 

whats cable lock?

 

I think its a security cable, you loop it around something and put it in the port that all laptops have, its made out of steel, it prevents people from walking off with your laptop
http://www.inco-security.co.uk/images/loklap-laptop-security-cable.jpg
theres a pic